On August 23 and 24, a special event will take place at 11 Seventh-day Adventist churches in New York City. The Sabbath sermon will be delivered by 11 stewardship professionals, speaking on the importance and sometimes misunderstood topic of stewardship. In the afternoon, you are invited to attend the Stewards of Hope seminar. This is a historic summit on stewardship. Every organizational level of the Adventist Church will be participating to lift up Jesus, the Ultimate Steward. Come join the experience, and be blessed.

The Sabbath afternoon program begins at 4:00 p.m., on August 24 at the Mount Vernon Seventh-day Adventist Church, 230 S. Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553. The afternoon seminars are geared toward teaching stewardship principles by several experts and will be in three languages: English, Spanish, and French.

Local church stewardship directors and their teams, church treasurers, elders, and pastors are invited to attend. The event is designed to train the trainers who will teach members how Seventh-day Adventists are to live as faithful stewards.

The offering taken in local churches on August 10, 2013, is designated for the Atlantic Union Adventist Media (AUAM). The AUAM production truck has recorded events, including camp meetings for the Greater New York and Northeastern conferences, Let's Connect Live (www.auam.tv), Pathway of Hope (www.hopetv.org and www.3abn.org), Families4 Heaven (www.3abn.org), and programs for the NY13Revelation of Hope evangelistic meetings.

Study of Publishing House Restructuring Ends Without Merger Recommendation

Citing "differing perspectives as to the interpretation" of Spirit of Prophecy writings about the independences of the two units, a statement issued by

Mark Thomas, president of the Review and Herald Publishing Association, addresses employees July 31 at the Review's campus in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. [photo: Kim Peckham/RHPA]

church leaders said: "It is felt in the best interest of the publishing work of the church at this time for there to be no change to the governance of the two institutions."

However, the statement noted that leaders of the General Conference and its North American Division have "requested that the two publishing houses continue to operate under their current structures but that they try to find ways to realize economies through closer cooperation and possible shared services."

Additionally, "The publishing houses are also encouraged to work very closely with and respond to the North American Division's mission-driven publishing needs and cooperate in developing more division-oriented and efficient delivery and distribution systems," the statement indicated.--Source:Adventist News Network (ANN)

Members of the Adventist Church's Theology of Ordination Study Committee voted to approve a consensus statement on the Adventist theology of ordination. The committee is navigating challenging issues surrounding the Christian tradition. [photo: Ansel Oliver]

"By a vote of 86 to 8 - a ratio of almost 11 to 1 - delegates at

the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Theology of Ordination Study Committee (TOSC) agreed today to approve a consensus statement on an Adventist theology of ordination. The action was an early endorsement of the goal of TOSC leaders to move unitedly through the challenging issues surrounding the church's discussion of ordination.

According to the statement, "Seventh-day Adventists understand ordination, in a biblical sense, as the action of the church in publicly recognizing those whom the Lord has called and equipped for local and global church ministry." Biblical examples of ordained persons include elders/supervising elders and deacons, the document says, as well as "elders who were itinerant and supervised greater territory with multiple congregations."

Explaining the role of an ordained person, the statement continues: "In the act of ordination the church confers representative authority upon individuals for the specific work of ministry to which they are appointed. These may include representing the church; proclaiming the gospel; administering the Lord's Supper and baptism; planting and organizing churches; guiding and nurturing members; opposing false teachings; and providing general service to the congregation."--Source: Adventist News Network (ANN)

Founded in 1901, the Atlantic Union Conference is the headquarters for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the northeast United States and the islands of Bermuda. It serves six conferences, more than 109,500 members who worship in 571 churches and 57 groups, 63 schools, one health care facility, and numerous community-based ministries.

The Atlantic Union Gleaner FYI is a news and information bulletin produced by the Communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Atlantic Union Conference. You are free to reprint any portion of the bulletin without the need for special permission. However, we kindly request that you identify Atlantic Union Gleaner FYI whenever you publish these materials.